Editorial: Let women fight

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is wise to open combat to women in military service. There's no valid reason those who want to fight should be denied the right to defend their country.

On Thursday, Panetta, who is leaving the Pentagon this year, formally announced the ban was lifted. However, the decision was released a day earlier.

Besides, it's nothing new for the military. As USA Today points out, women pilot warplanes and serve on ships in combat areas. For much of the last 10 years, in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, 292,000 women have served in combat zones. That's more than 10 percent of the nearly 2.5 million we have sent into harm's way there.

Men and women volunteer to join the military understanding the sacrifice that's involved: Leaving a family and loved ones to head overseas, most recently to the Middle East or Asia, to fight, whether its in defense of the United States or another country, or to wipe out terrorism. Without a draft, we are fortunate there are this many women who want to serve. Otherwise, the ranks would be dangerously thin. Overall, women make up 14 percent of the 1.4 million active military personnel.

Naturally, those who have served in combat understand the stress and danger. Among the concerns is what would happen to women who are captured. Retired Navy Cmdr. Robert Flynn, 75, of Pensacola was a prisoner of war in China when he was shot down over North Vietnam.

"I know the men would have a real hard time watching a gal get tortured," he told reporter Troy Moon, who was gathering reaction to Panetta's plan. "It would cripple me."

We understand the other concerns as well, but support Panetta and the Joint Chiefs of Staff who agree women should be allowed in combat. We hope it is successful and that those allowed into combat zones are qualified and capable. We also trust the military leaders have thought through the consequences that are being raised.

Again, we go back to those who have been in areas of combat. Army Spc. Heather Wood, a military police officer in Afghanistan in 2010, supports the opportunity afforded to women.

"Heck, there are males out there that can't handle being shot at," she told USA Today.

Besides, the military has shown it can adapt to substantive changes. Black and white troops were integrated more than 60 years ago under President Truman, when there surely was a great deal of controversy. However, it was the right thing to do and we are a better country for it.

Most recently, the branches have accepted gay men and women following years of "don't ask, don't tell."

There's no reason to believe having women in combat will reduce the ability of the military to fight and win.